Monday, February 29, 2016

This month my Technique Night Classes are focusing on watercolour background techniques. I needed some samples and today's card is one of them. I am so excited with how this project turned out. I knew I wanted to stamp the fern images on moistened watercolour paper and let the images bleed and run a little, but I wasn't sure just how much water to use and whether or not I should also spritz the ink on the stamp . Luckily, watercolour can be forgiving and I learned quickly what would work to give you the best effect.

I love how the corrugated kraft paper behind the images adds to the jungle feeling of the card. It reminds me of a jungle hut built with bamboo or something.

I don't want to explain too much about how this is made, as it will be shown to my classes, but here's a closer look:

I had quite the time selecting the background paper for this card. I had many different samples but nothing looked quite right. I even did a Skype consult with my daughter and she had the same reservations about the DSP samples I showed her. Finally she said, "What about Crumb Cake, or kraft?" And then I knew I wanted to use the Kraft Corrugated Paper, which is one of my favourites anyway. I don't know why it didn't occur to me right away.

Yay for Wink of Stella! It was a quick, no fuss way of making my dragonfly iridescent!

Friday, February 26, 2016

Well, I have a confession to make! As I prepared my Design Team project for As You See It Challenges, I was almost certain that we were supposed to use a technique that we've never used before. Then, as I posted it on the challenge blog, I saw that I was way off base. We were supposed to use a sentiment that we love. Ahem! I had already spent hours on the no line watercolouring technique and I wasn't about to start over, especially as I had been fighting a migraine all day. Fortunately, the stamp set I had chosen to use with my watercolouring, Birthday Blooms, has some really lovely sentiments, so while they may not be my favourite sentiments, they are ones that I love.

Keep in mind, I thought this was supposed to be a technique I've never tried before, so I have never done 'no line watercolouring' until today. I'm no expert, but I did have expert help with this tutorial from Splitcoaststampers. I have more to learn and lots to practise, but I'm fairly pleased with the results.

For no line watercolour, basically, you stamp your image in a really light ink and then use watercolour techniques to fill it in. I stamped the image from Birthday Blooms in Sahara Sand.

To do the watercolouring, I used Stampin' Up! inks and a good watercolour paintbrush that I received for Christmas. Watermelon Wonder, Mint Macaron and Delightful Dijon, all 2015-17 In Colours, formed my palette.

The key to successful watercolouring seems to be laying down colour in layers and drying or setting them with your Heat Tool in between layers. I think you'll have the best results if you want to try this technique, by watching the Splitcoaststamper's tutorial and following her directions. Give it a try! It's fun!

If you know this stamp image, I cut off some of the tiny leaf sprigs when I fussy cut the image because they were so tiny to properly water colour, and hard to snip out. You don't really miss them, I think.

Click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the products used to make this card today.

Freshly Made Sketches

The Color Throwdown

Global Design Project

The Paper Players

What's New at SU DT Member

Follow me by Email

About Me

I'm an avid crafter and a Stampin' Up! demonstrator in Canada located in the sunny Okanagan Valley! I have a hubby and three grown girls and six grandkids, four loveable boys and two adorable girls. Two cats complete the household as well as rule it! I really should get more exercise, but everytime the urge hits, I head to the craft room until it passes!

Popular Posts

Copyright Disclaimer

The content in this blog is the sole responsibility of Heather Cooper. I am happy to share my creations with you for your personal inspiration! However, please do not copy or submit my work as your own to any publication or contest. I am thrilled and honoured when you CASE my work, but please give credit where credit is due. Thanks so much!